Automatic cloth laying-up machine



Oct. 24, 1944.

H. w. GILBERT ETAL ,8

AUTOMATIC CLOTH LAYING-UP MACHINE Filed March 4, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 lNVENTOR flee/1m. Wane/a quasar, BY Mame Perm/yaw M 7): 6 FEE! ATfoRuEy,

Oct. 24, 1944. w, GlLBERT ETAL 2,360,869

AUTOMATIC CLOTH LAYING-UP MACHINE Filed March 4. 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Frg 7 27 INVENTOR) Hex/141v Wnqs qua-R1 Mum DEICHMM/IV m4 2 4/71 FREI 7 HTTOR/VE' 1944. H. w. GILBERT ETAL 3 9 AUTOMATIC CLOTH LAYING-UP MACHINE Filed March 4, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 l INVENTORS Haw/11v n/aqee 6m BERT Wqqen DE/cHqmv/V M 3%: I)? 5 FREI I W fiTTORNEX Oct. 24, 1944.

H. W. GILBERT ETAL AUTOMATIC CLOTH LAYING-UP MACHINE Filed March 4, 1943 r 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I38 INVENTOR5 HER/141W WALTER qmamr 5 [44 Name Demurmmv, MA rg BY Jam F. FREI' E W gram/ i an excessive jar.

Patented Oct. 24, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I 2,360,869 x e I AUTOMATIC CLOTH LAYING- UP MACHINE Herman Walter. Gilbert; Forest Hills, Walter. Deichmann, Elmont and Jack E'. Frei, New York, N. Y.;' said Deichmann and said Frei assignors to said Gilbert I 1 I Application March 4, 1943, Serial No. 477,934

18 Claims. (C l. 2 70-31) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in cloth laying-up machines, and has'more particular reference to an automatic machine of this type.

Heretofore, the common cloth laying-up ma-.

chine was manually operated in'so far as it required that the carriage of the machine be manually moved back and forth on the table upon whi'ch'the cloth was laid up. This invention contemplates the construction laying-up machi'ne'in which the carriage will automatically move to and fro on the table, eliminating the necessity that it be manually moved. l

More specifically, it'is proposed to so construct the new automatic 'cloth'laying-upmachine that its carriage travels rapidly" to and fro on the table, except at the'end portions'of its path of travel. At said end portions, it automatically travels slowly so that it mayrevers'e without It is proposed to provide cams mounted on the table near the end portions of the path of travel, and it is proposed to provide a certain mechanism on the carriage of the cloth laying-up machine which is cooperative with thesecams to control the speed of travel of the carriage of the machine. With the arrangement used, when the carriage of the cloth laying-up machine is outside of the cams it travels slowly, and when it is between the cams, it travels rapidly.

The invention also contemplates a simple and effective mechanism for reversing. the carriage of the cloth laying-up the ends of the path of travel.

An important feature of this invention resides in the construction of a certain transmission of the automatic cloth laying-upmachine which connects a prime mover; such as an electric-motor on the carriage of the'machine, with the wheels of the carriage for driving the same. It is proposed that this transmission include change of speed 'CllltChGSfy-Etlld -change of direction clutches. An important feature resides in'the way these clutches :are arranged in relation with each 'other.'. Another important feature resides in the mechanism and means for operating these clutches. 1

It is important that the" clutches function smoothly to prevent the 'carriage of themachine' from jerking when its speed is changed or when its direction is changed. For this reason a certain mechanism has-"been provided which includes'dashpots and certain cams arof an automatic cloth machine when it reaches 1 ranged so as to gradually-set the clutches into and out of operation. f y

--The invention alsosproposes an: arrangement forcutting outmostcof the mechanism .of the transmission previouslyreferred to; when desired to convert the cloth laying-up machine to a machine in which the carriage may be hand operated, that is,'manually moved to and fro. I M The invention'also proposes an automatic cutout for fstopping the automatic cloth laying-up machine when all of the cloth'on it has been laid'up. With this construction the necessity of an operator watching the machine has been eliminated;

The invention also proposes to construct the automatic cloth laying-up :machine and the transmission mechanism thereof so sturdy that an operator may sit on the carriage'of the machine. while it is automatically moving to and froi'and straighten out'the layers of cloth as the machine lays them, and generally make certain that the cloth is being properly laid.

I Forfurther comprehension of the invention,

and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanyingdrawings, and to the appended claims in which'the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig.-l is'a side elevational 'viewof an automatic cloth laying-up machine constructed in accordancr-zwith this inventiomand shown rested on 'a tablet Fig; 2 is a fragmentary horizontalsectional view taken on theline 2-2 of Fig. 1.

' 3 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view taken onthe line 33 of Fig. 2, this section being taken' directly behind the front wall -of=.the box shown in Figs. 1 and p "Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken the line 5-5 of Fig. '3. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional :view taken throughthe-center of one of thecylinders of the dash pots illustrated in Figs. 3-5, this view corresponding to a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 7-! of'Fig. 6. ';Fig. 8 is a sectionalview similar to Fig. 6 but illustrating the parts ina different position.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary enlarged detailed view of a portion of Fig. 1 but schematically illustrating the parts in different positions.'

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken on the line Ill-l 6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken on the line I l of Fig. 1. L

Fig. 12 is a horizontal sectional view similar to Fig. 5 but illustrating the parts in a different position.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line |3-| 3 of Fig.2.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary enlarged view of a portion of Fig. 1 showing particularly details of the automatic stop mechanism of the machine.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line |5-|5 of Fig. 14. I

Fig. 16 is a schematic wiring diagram of the electrical circuit of the device.

The automatic cloth laying-up machine, in accordance with this invention, includes a cloth laying-up machine 26 of any design. and construction, having a carriage 2| supported on wheels 22. The goods to be laid up is placed on the carriage 2| and guided through the cloth layingup' machine 20 inthe usual way. The details of the threading of the cloth and the machine itself will not be given in this specification as it forms no part of the invention, and machines of this type are well known. For example, this invention is applicable to a cloth laying-up machine such-as illustrated in patentapplication Serial No. 370,184 invented by Messrs. Gilbert, Dexter and Deichmann.

The carriage 2| is rested on a table 23 which has a track 24 mounted along the front edge. The wheels 22 on the near side of the carriage 2| of the cloth laying machine engage this track. On the other side the carriage 2| of thecloth laying machine has rubber wheels which merely rested on the top of the table 23. The carriage 2| is adapted to be moved to and fro 0n the table 23 from end to end along the length of the track 24. If we consider the right hand end of the table 23 as the front end of the-table, then the carriage 2| may be moved to this position which we'will refer to as the forward position, and next the carriage 2| may be moved to the left hand end of the table. which we will refer to as the rearward position of its path of travel, and next the carriage 2| may be moved back again to the right so as to lay up the goods. The carriage 2| works in conjunction with the usual cloth catching and holding devices 25 which are mounted on the forward and rearward ends of the table 23 for catching and holding the folded end portions of the layers of laid up cloth.

A prime mover 26, such as an electric motor, is indirectly mounted on the carriage 2|. More specifically, box 21 which inturn is mounted on the side of the carriage 2| by the brackets 21. The electric motor -26 may be supplied with electric current from an overhead flexible cable, or other system, not disclosed on forms no part of the invention. A transmission connects the prime mover 26 with certain of the wheels 22 for driving the carriage 2|,and this transmission includes change of speed clutches 38 and change of direction clutches 42, as hereinaf-ter more fully explained. These clutches and most of the mechanism of the transmission are located within the box 21. The electric motor 26 is provided with a pulley 28 which is engaged by a belt 29 engaging a wheel 36 mounted on the the prime mover 26 is mounted on a J the drawings, since it tween the cores and is clutches 42. As illustrated in Fig. 4, the fork 45 may best be understood by "rotatively mounted across the box 21.

A pair of speed control clutches (said clutches 38) are mounted on the speed control shaft, 36. These clutches 38 have drums 39 rotatively and non-slidably mounted on the shaft 36 and they also have adjacent cores 40 non-rotatively but slightly slidably mounted on the speed clutch shaft 36. The details of these clutches will not be given in this specification as they form no part of the invention. However, the operation of said clutches must be pointed out. The operation is such that a fork 4| working between the cores 40 is capable of throwing in or taking out selectively these clutches from operation. This examining Fig. 4 and noting that when the fork 4| is turned to the position illustrated, one of the cores 46 is pressed inwards while the other is free. The clutch 38 with the pressed in core 46 is the one that is now, transmitting.

A pair of direction control clutches (said clutches 42) are mounted on the reverse clutch shaft 31. These clutches 42 have drums 43 rotatively and non-slidably mounted on the reverse clutch shaft 31. They also have cores 44 nonrotatively but slightly slidably mounted on the reverse clutch shaft 31. A fork 45 engages beadapted to operate said is pressing inwards one of the cores 44 so that one of these clutches 42 is now transmitting. The other core 44 is free. A high speed gear train 46 connects the countershaft 35 with the drum 36 of one of said speed control clutches 38. This high speed gear train 46 comprises a pair of identical sized meshing gears 41 and 48. The gear 41is mounted on the shaft 35 while the gear 48 is mounted on the drum 39 of said clutch 38. A low speed gear train 49 connects the countershaft 35 with the drum 39' of the other of said speed control clutches 38. This low speed gear train comprises a small gear 50 mounted on the shaft 35 and meshing. with a large gear 5| mounted on the drum 39 of said other speed control clutches 38. A forward gear train 52 connects the speed control shaft 36 with the drum of one of said direction control clutches 42. This forward gear train comprises a pair of meshing gears 53 and 54. The gear '53 is mounted on the shaft 36 and meshes with the gear 54 which is mounted on the drum 43 of one of the clutches 42. There is also a reverse gear train 55 connecting said speed control shaft 36 with the drum of the other of said direction control clutches 42. This reverse gear train comprises a gear 56 mounted on the speed controlshaft 36 and meshing with an idler gear 51 which in turn meshes with a gear 58 mounted on the drum 43 of the said last mentioned clutch 42. The controller fork 4| is freely mounted on the upper portion of a vertical shaft 59 turnably mounted within the box 21. The controller fork 45 is freely mounted on the lower portion of said shaft 59. At this point it may be best to trace the transmission through the box 21. Starting 38. Rotations. from the speed'cont'rol' "shaft '36 will be'transmitt'ed simultaneously to the drums 43 of the direction clutches 42. However; these drums 43 will be rotating in opposite. directions:

One'or the other of these clutches 4'2"willdrive the" reverse clutch'shaft 31 depending upon the position of the fork 45. Thus the shaft 97 willbe driven inv one" direction or the "other at a. speed, or at a low speed, depending merely upon the engagement of the said clutches98zand; 42'."

The shaft 3'! projects from the back side of the box 217. The shaft 31 connects with a main clutch tilt-Which in turn connects withv a rotatively sup ported stud shaft 31". This rotativelysupporte'd stud-shaft. 3'! is provided with a'sprockei; 61 engaged by a. chain. 62 which connects with" a sprocket 63. on a-countershaftfil. The countershaft-64 is provided witha-sprocket' 65 connected by a chain 66 with a sprocket 61 'on a transverse shaft-.68 mounted across thecarriage 21. back: end of the shaft 68 is provided. with a sprocket'69 engaged by achain I0 connected with a sprocket Mon 21. shaft-I2 upon which the front one of the far wheels" 22 of thefcarriage ZI is mounted. The shaft 64 is also provided with a sprocket "I3 engagedby a chain I4 engaged over a sprocket 'I5 on a'shaft' I6 upon which the rear near wheel 22 of the carriage-2i is; mounted. The construction is suchthat the shaft 31 indirectly drives two of the wheels 22so'as to drivethe carriage -2I; It is pointed out that the main clutch 6.0. maybe opened'soas to disconnect all the mechanism within the box 21 and thenthe carriage 2| of thecloth laying-up machine 29 may be manually pushed to "and. fro on the table2-3.

A means is provided for throwing said change of direction clutches '42, which means includes a reverse control lever 19 movably mounted on said carriage 2| and more particularmupon the side of the box-21. Thisreverse control lever 19 has-a forward-position, illustratedby the dot and dash lines I9,-in Which'said carriage-2 I: is driven forwards, that is, towards theright, and it also hasa rearward'position, the position illustrated by the full linesin which said carriage-2l is driven rearwards.

Reversing members and BI are mounted on the said-table 23 atsaid rearward and forward positions to form abutmentsfor said reversing lever 79.to-move said'reversing lever towards its forward and rearward positions, respectively, when said carriage ZI reaches, its rearward forward positions, respectively. The reversing member 80 comprises 'a block mounted on the table-23 and supporting-a roller- 82 againstwhich the end of' the reverse-control lever i9 strikes. The reversing member 8i also comprises a block provided with a roller 82 against which the reverse control lever. 19 strikes.

The reverse control 1ever'19 is mounted ,on a turnable shaft 83 which extends into the box 21. A radial arm 84 is. mounted on the shaft 83 and pivotally connects with a link 85 which in turn is pivotally connected" with a radial arm upon The a vertical 'sha'it'8l turnablysupported inthe box 21. This vertical shaft 81 supports in, conjunctionwith a stud 81d 'a horizontal radial housing 88 of a dash pot mechanism-891 A plunger 90 projects from the dash pot mechanism 89 and carries a'foll'ower ro1ler 9I 'Whichengages an arcuate fork-shiftencani 92 'connected with said fork '45. This fork shifter cam 92 has end sec'-. tions 93 and 94"e 'ten'ding. to opposite sides of the pivot of saidffork 45.- This fork shifter cam 92 'is for the purpose of depressing the plunger 90 when the housing 88"isturned so that the plunger 90-is moved from the extremity of one or theoth'er of the end section-'93 or 94 past the center of the fork'shifter cam 92.

The plunger 99 1s slidablymounted in and projects from the housing 88; Re silie'n't means urges the plunger 90 outwards, -and this; resilient means includes a spring-95 coaxially mounted on the plunger 90 andacting between the housing 88 and nuts 91'adjustably'mounted on a bracket 98 which'supports thefollower, roller 9I.

The construction jof'the dash pot means,8'9 may be recognized by-notingth'atthe plunger 90 has a slotted inner end through whichalever 99 passes. Thisflev'er99 is pivotallymounted by a pintle I00 supported on. th e'housing 88. The housing 88 has a: slot I01, in which the lever 99 is capable'of'moving. p The plunger 90 is provided with a pin I02 which engages asmall slot I03. in thelever 99. The outer end ofthe lever 99 eX-. tendsinto a slot in the rear end of a piston I09, and said lever 99 is provided with another slot I04 engaged-by a pin :05 mounted on, said piston I06. This piston rod I06 Works in a cylinder I0'I formed in the housing B83 A..oneway*valve I08 is mounted upon the front'end of the cylinder I01." Anadj'u'stable' bleed screw I09'indirectly connects with'the front end, ofthe'cylinder I01. This bleed screw [99 hasfa slot III) throughwhich oil or other fluid for the dash pott may flow. The valve I08 includesa ball I II and'aspring I I2 urging the ball I-I Iupon a valve seat; The construction 'is such that when the'plunger 90 is pressed inwards the piston I06 "will movejcorresponding- 1y. This maybe clearly understood by inspectingF'igs'. 6 aud o which show the two positions of the piston of-the dash pot. {When the piston lflfi'moves inwards it draws on through the valve we. "The spring 95" thentendsto move the plunger 90 outwards; and this action at the same time-forces the oil from the c linder I01 through thebleed1 I0 of said'ble'e'd screw I09. This con stitutes the dash pot action,

It is pointed outthatin the position ofthe parts illustrated in Fig; 5', the spring 96 of the dash pot mechanism 89 tends to pivot the arcuate fork shifter cam 92 clockwise; This indirectly tends to pivot the 'fork clockwise, see. Fig. 4. Consequently, the bottom clutch core 44, as illustrated in Fig. 4, is 'engaged while the top clutch core '44; is free. When "the reverse control lever 'I9fiis; moved to its other position, the housing 88 will be moved towards the position illustrated in Fig.1,l2. However, the reversing members (80 and 8I)- of the reverse contiollever l9mus t be so adjusted that when." thehousing 88 pivots,'the roller 9lrme'rely passes the center of the fork shifter-cam 92. "Thisnew position of the follower roller 9I tends'to tur'nihe' fork shifter cam 92 anticlockwise. Thelspring 96 then expands, as controlled by'the' dash 7 this expansion the housing- 88 continues to turn untiffinally it reaches the position illustrated in Fig. 12.v In this position the fork shifter cam 92 is pot action 89, and during now being urged at full pressure anti-clockwise, and the fork 45 is being correspondingly urged. It should be noted that the direction control clutches 42 are now reversed in their actions.

Means is also provided for operating said change ofspeed clutches 38, and this means includes a change ofspeed control lever II5 movably mounted indirectly on the carriage 2| and having a slow position, indicated by the dot and dash lines I I5 in which said carriage 2| is driven at a slow speed. The speed control lever I I5 also passes inwards of said cams. The speed control lever H5 is pivotally mounted at its center by a pintle IIB. Rollers II9 are mounted upon the ends of the speed control lever I I5. These rollers II9are cooperative with the cams III; and H1. The cam I|6 has an apex directed upwards for pivoting the lever H5 as the carriage 2| passes in either direction. The cam H1 is of a similar construction except that it is pointed downwards. With this construction the speed control lever I I5 will always assume its fast position when the carriage 2| is between the cams H6, and H1 and its slow position when the carriage 2| is outside of said cams. I

The speed control lever I I5 ispivotally mounted on a bracket I2I which is supported on the box 21. A radial arm I22 is connected with the pivot II8 of the lever H5 and pivotally connects with a link. I23 which in turn is pivotally .con-

nected with radial arm I24 connected with a tu,-

bular shaft I25 engaged over the said shaft 83. This tubular shaft I25 extends into the box 21. The inner end of the shaft I25 is provided with a radial arm I26 which pivotally connects with a link I21 which in turn is pivotally connected with a radial arm I 28 fixed on a vertical turnable shaft I29. This vertical shaft I29 supports a second dash pot mechanism 89', see Fig. 3. This second dash pot mechanism 89 includes a housing 88 which is supported by the shaft I29. The dash pot mechanism 89' is of identical construction to the dash pot mechanism 89. It has a follower roller 9| engaging an arcuate forked shifter cam 92 connected with the fork 4|. Normally, the spring 96 of this dashpot mechanism 89' tends to turn the fork 4| in one direction. Then, when the change of speed lever H5 is moved by its operating cams H6 and H1, the dash pot mechanism 89' will be turned past the center of the fork shifter cam 92' and tend to turn the fork 4| in the other direction. In this way the clutches 38 are shifted, always one or the other transmitting.

The automatic cloth laying-up machine 20 is also provided with a cloth control automatic cutover for the motor 26. This cutout includes a rod I35 mounted across the arms I36 of the carriage- 2I. The rod I35 is provided with fingers I31 over which the cloth is guided. The cloth tends to press these fingers I31 downwards, turning the rod I35 slightly against the action of a spring I38. This spring I38 acts between an arm I39 mounted on the rod I35 and a box I40 mounted on one of the arms I36. The arm I39 when free and drawnby the spring I38 engages a contact I'4I. However, when cloth material depresses the fingers I31 the arm I39 ,disengages the contact MI and engages a contact I42. The contacts |4| and|42 are connected in parallel, and then in series with a circuit I44 which includes a magnetic controller switch I45. This magnetic controller switch I45 has a lever I46 which is normally urged to an open position by a spring I41. It also has a coil I48 in series with the circuit I44 controlling a core I48 connected with the lever I46. A pair of contacts I50 are associated with said lever I46 and are in series with the circuit I44.

A feature ofthe automatic cutout resides in the fact that the automatic cloth laying-up machine 2| may be used without the cutout when desired. To do this it is merely necessary to so thread the cloth on the machineso that it does not depress the fingers I31. With this arrangement when the controller lever I46 is moved to close contacts I50 the automatic cloth laying-up machine will operate. On the other hand if it is desired to use-the automatic cutout it is merely necessary to thread the goods so that the fingers I31 are depressed. In this condition the circuit I44 will be closed through the lever I39 and contact I42. When the controller lever I40 is now closed the machine will also be set into operation. However, when the end of the cloth is reached, the fingers I31 will be freed and the spring I38 will turn the rod I35 so that the circuit is broken between the arm I39 and contact I42. The coil I48 loses its magnetism and the spring I41 moves the lever I46 to break the circuit I44 at the contacts I50. The arm I39 now engages the contact I4I but the circuit remains broken at the contacts I50.

The operation of the automatic cloth laying-up machine is as follows:

The box 21 is filled with oil to a height above the dash pot mechanism 89. As illustrated in Fig. 1 the carriage 2| of the machine is traveling at a fast rate towards the left, as indicated by the arrow A. When the carriage 2| reaches a position in which the speed control lever 5 will be moved by the cam II6 to its slow position, the speed of travel of the carriage 2| will be automatically slowed'down. The shifting of the speed control lever II5 changes the speed of travel of the carriage 2| because as it rocks it will indirectly turn the shaft I29 to a position in which the housing 88 of the dash pot mechanism 89' moves to a position in which its follower .roller 9| passes the center of the arcuate fork shifter cam 92'. This indirectly throws the fork 4| which in turn reverses the-operation of the clutches 38; It is pointed out that even after the speed control lever II5 was moved by the cam II6, said lever 5 will continue to move under the action of the spring 96 of the dash pot mechanism 89'. It will continue to move until the dash potmechanism 89' reaches the extremity of the fork shifter cam 92'.

The carriage 2| is now moved at a slow rate of speed and will continueto do so until changed. Next the reverse control lever 19 strikes the roller 82 of the reversing member 80. This pivots the reverse control lever 19 which indirectly turns the shaft 81 turning the dash pot mechanism 89 past the center of the arcuate fork shifter cam 92/ This reverses the fork 45. However, the action will not be sudden. The parts are so designed that the housing 88 is turned to a position in which the follower roller 9|, merely passes the pivot of the fork shifter cam 92.- The carriage Zl-now is traveling slowly towards the right. Howeventhe leverflfl keeps moving because the spring 96 is expanding and the housing 88 keeps turninguntil the follower roller 9| reaches the extremity of the fork shifter cam 92. Soon the carriage 2! reaches aposition in which the speed control lever "H is moved back to its initial fast position by the cam I I6. This will act indirectly upon the fork M, which shifts the clutches 38, and now the carriage 2| will travel rapidly. It will continue its rapid motion until the speed control lever l I 5 is moved by the cam l H to its slow position.

This indirectly moves. the fork 4| which operates the clutches 38, and now the carriage will travel slowly. It will continue its slow motion until the speed control lever H5 is again moved by the cam II! to its fast position. It continues at the slow speed until the reversing lever 19 strikes the roller 82 of the reversing member 81. The carriage 2| now reverses its direction and still continues at a slow speed until the speed control lever H5 is again moved by the cam Ill toits fast position. Now the carriage 2! is traveling again towardsthe left at high speed.

Whilewe have illustrated and describedthe preferred embodiment'of our invention, it is to be understood that we do not. limit ourselves to the precise constructionherein. disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scopeofthe invention as'dcfined in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what We claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is: I I

1. In an automatic cloth laying-up-machine having a, carriage traveling on a table and a transmission for driving said carriage including a shaft with a pair of clutches having rotative drums on said shaft and adjacent cores nonrotative and slidably connected with said shaft, a pivotally mounted controller fork between said cores for actuating by sliding one core -or the other, an arcuate fork shifter cam connected with said fork and havingend sections extending to opposite sides of the pivot of said controller fork for depressing a plunger when moved fromits ends to its center, a housing pivotally mounted to the front of saidcam, a plunger for being depressed by said cam sl idab'ly mounted on said housing and having a follower engaging the free extremity of one end section of said cam, resilient means urging said plunger outwards for resiliently turning'said cam and controller fork, dash pot means connected with said plunger for retarding its outward motion when depressed, and means for pivoting said housing to a position in which said follower is past the pivot of said fork.

'2. In an automatic cloth laying-up machine having a' carriage traveling on a table and a transmission for driving said carriage including a shaft with a pair of clutches having rotative drums on said shaft and adjacent cores nonrotative and slidably connected with said shaft, a pivotally mounted controller fork between said oores for actuating by sliding one core or the other, an varcuate fork shifter cam connected with said fork and having end sections extendbeing depressed by said cam slidably mounted on said housing andhaving a follower engaging the free extremity of one endsection of said cam, resilient means urging said plunger outwards for resiliently turning said cam and controller fork, dash pot'meansconnected with said plunger for retarding its outward motion when de-,

pressed, and means for pivoting saidhousing to a position inwhich said follower is past the pivot of said fork, andmeansfor; varying the resiliency of. said resilient means. 9

3-. In an automatic;cloth laying-up machine having a, carriage travelingon a tableland a transmission for driving, said carriage including a shaft with a, pair of clutches having rotative dnums on said shaftand' adjacent cores nonrotative .andslidably connected with said shaft, apivotally mounted, controller fork between said .cores foractuating by sliding one core or the other, an arcuate fork shifter cam. connected with said fork and having end sections extendingto oppositesides ofthe pivot ofv said controller fork for depressing a plunger when moved from its ends to its centenpav housingpivotally mounted totthe front of said cam, a plunger for being depressed by. saidcam slidably mounted on said housing and having .a follower engaging the free extremity of '.one end :sectionof said- .cam, resilient m'eansxurging said plunger 1 outwards for resiliently turning said camiandcontroller fork,

dash potmeans connected.- with: said plunger for ing to opposite sides of the pivot of said controller fork for depressing a plunger when. moved from its ends to its center, a housing pivotally mountedto the front of said cam a plunger for retarding its :outward, motion when. depressed, andmeans I for pivoting said housing to a.:position in which-said follower. is past .the pivotzof said fork, said v:resili'entv means .oomprising a spring coaxiallyon said plunger. and acting :between said .housing and said plunger.

4. In an automatio clothlaying up machine having a-carriagetraveling on a table and a transmission for driving said carriagerincluding a 'shaftwith .a pairof-clut'ches having rotative drums on said shaft and adjacent coresnon-rotative and slidablyconnected with saidshaft, a pivotallyamounted controller fork "between said cores. foractuating by sliding. one core or the other, anarcuate. fork shifter camuconnected .withsaid fork :andhaving end sections extending to opposite .sides of the pivot of said controller forkfordepressing a plunger whenmoved from its .ends. to itscenter, a. housing pivotally mounted to. the. front .of .saidcam, a plunger for being depressed by said cam slidablymounted on said housingand having acfollower engaging the free extremity ofhoneendjsection of..said cam, resilient .means ur ing said plunger-outwardsfor resiliently turning said cam and .c0n troller fork, dash pot means connected. withsaid plunger for retarding its outward motionwhen depressed, and means for pivotingsaidhousing to, a. position in which .said follower is past: the

,pivot ;of said fork, .said-dashpot means including a pivotallymounted lever. connected with .said plunger to .be moved by. the plunger; a piston connected. with .the .lever 'to'be .moved ,by the lever. and a cylinder in .said housing for .said piston. v 1

5. In an automatic .clothlaying-up machine having a-carriage traveling. on a .tablejand a .transmissionsfor driving: said. carriage including a shaft with a. pair of-clutcheshaving. .rotat'ive drums on said.- shaft. and adjacent cores non-rotative and; slidably connectedcwithzsaid; shaft, a

pivotally mounted:controllerzafork :btween. said .cores for; actuating by 1iding'. 0ne; core..-:or;:the other-,-- an .arcuate f fork shifter'gcam connected opposite sides .for depressing a plunger when moved from its ends .to its center, a housing pivotally mounted with said fork and having end sections extending to opposite sides of the pivot of said controller fork for depressing a plunger when moved from its ends to its center, a housing pivotally mounted to thevfront of said cam, a plunger for being depressed by said cam slidably mounted on said housing and having a follower engaging the free extremity of one end section of said cam, resilient means urging said plunger outwards for resiliently turning said cam and controller fork, dash pot means connected with said plunger for retardingits outward motion when depressed, and means for pivoting said housing to a position in which said follower is past the pivot of said fork, said dash pot means including a pivotally mounted lever connected with said plunger to be moved by the plunger, a piston connected with the lever to be moved by the lever, a cylinder in said housing for said piston, and a one way valve mounted on the front end of said cylinder.

6. In' an automatic cloth laying-up machine having a carriage traveling on a table and a transmission for drivin said carriage including a shaft with a pair of clutches having rotative drums on said shaft and adjacent cores nonrotative and slidably connected-with said shaft, a pivotally mounted'controller fork between said cores for actuatingiby sliding one core or the other, an arcuate fork shifter cam connected with said fork and having end sections extending to opposite sides of the. pivot of said controller fork'for depressing a plunger when moved from its ends to its center, a'housing pivotally mounted ,to the front of said cam aplunger for being depressed by said camslidably mounted on said housing and having a followerengaging the free extremity of one end section of said cam, resilient means urging said plunger outwards for resiliently turning said cam and controller fork, dash pot; means connected with said plunger for retarding its outward motion when depressed, and means for pivoting said housing to a position in which. said follower is past the pivot of said fork, said dash pot means including a pivotally mounted lever connectedwi-th said plunger tobemoved by the plungenia piston connected with the lever .to be moved by the lever, a cylinder in said housing for said-piston, a one way -valve mounted on the front end of said cylinder, and anadjustable bleed connected with the front end of saidlcylinder. v

1 7."In' an automatic 'cloth laying-up machine having acarriage traveling on a table and a transmission for driving saidlcarriage including a shaft with a pair of clutches having rotative drums on said shaft and adjacent cores non-ro- .tative and slidably connected with said shaft, a :pivotally mounted controller fork between said cores for actuating by sliding onecore or the :other, an arcuate forkshifter cam connected with said fork and having end sections extending to of the pivot 'of said controller fork to the front of said cam, a plunger for being depressed by said cam slidably mounted on said housing and having a follower engaging the free extremity of one end section of said cam, re-

silient meansurging said plunger outwards for resiliently turning said cam and controller fork, dash pot means connected withsaid plunger for retarding its outward motion when depressed,"

and means for pivoting saidJhOusing to a positio'nin which'said follower is past the pivot of saidfork, comprising a lever movably mounted on said carriage, a linkage system connecting said lever and housing, and means mounted on said table for moving said lever during the traveling of said carriage. a

' 8. In an automatic cloth laying-up machine having a carriage traveling on a table and a transmission for driving said carriage including a shaft with a pair of clutches having rotative drums on said shaft and adjacent cores non-rotative and slidably connected with said shaft, a pivotally mounted controller fork between said cores for actuating by slidingone core or the other, an arcuate fork shifter cam connected with said fork and having end sections extending to opposite sides of the pivot of said controller fork for depressing a plunger when moved from its ends to its center, a housing pivotally mounted to the front of said cam, a plunger for being depressed by said cam slidably mounted on said housing and having a follower engaging the free extremity of one end section of said cam, resilient means urging said plunger outwards for resiliently turning said cam and controller fork, dash pot means connected with said plunger for retarding its outward motion when. depressed, and "means for pivoting said housing to a position in which said follower is past the pivot of said fork, comprising a lever movably mounted on said carriage, a linkage system connecting said lever and housing, and means mounted on said table for moving said lever during the traveling of said carriage, said latter means comprising an abutment on the table and engageable with said lever.

9. In an automatic cloth laying-up machine having a carriage traveling on a table and a transmission for driving said carriage including a shaft with a pair of clutches having rotative drums on said shaft and adjacent cores non-rotative and slidably connected with said shaft, a pivotally mounted controller fork between said cores for actuating by sliding one core or the other, an arcuate fork shifter cam connected with said fork and having end sections extending to opposite sides of the pivot of said controller fork for depressing a plunger when moved from its ends to its center, a housing pivotally mounted lever and housing, and means mounted on said table for moving said lever during the traveling of said carriage, said latter means comprising a cam mounted on said table and cooperative with said lever.

10. In an automatic cloth laying-up machine having acarriage traveling on a table and a transmission for driving said carriage including a shaft with a pair of-clutches having rotative drums on saidshaft and adjacent cores non-1otative and slidably connected'with said shaft, a pivotallymounted controller fork between said cores'for actuating by sliding one core or the other, an arcuate fork shifter cam connected with said fork and having end sections extending to tarding its outwardmotion when depressed. and

means for pivoting said housing to a position in which said follower is past the pivot ofysaid fork, comprising a lever movably mounted on said carriage,- a, linkage system connectinglsaidlever and housing, and means mounted on said table for moving said lever during theitraveling of said carriage, said latter means comprising a cam mounted on said table and cooperative with; said lever, said cam having an apex portion onerside of which is adapted to throw saidlever in one direction and the other side of which is adapted to throwsaid lever in the other direction;

, 11.,In an automatic. cloth laying-up machine havinga carriage with wheels traveling on altable and a prime mover, a transmissionconnecting said prime mover and wheels, and including a driven countershaft, a, speed clutch shafdand a reverse clutch shaft, a pair of speed control clutches on said speed clutch shaftand having rotative drums and adjacent cores non-rotative and slidably connected with said speed .clutch shaft-a pair of direction control clutches on said reverse clutch shaft'and having rotative drums and adjacent cores non-rotative and slidably connected with said reverse clutch shaft, a high speed gear trainconnecting said countershaft with the drum of one of said speed control clutches, a low speed gear train connecting said countershaft with the drum of the other of said speed control clutches, a forward gear train con necting said speed clutch shaft with the drum of one of saiddirection control clutches, a reverse gear train connecting said speed clutch shaft with the drum of the other of said direction control clutches, a controller fork between the cores of said speed control clutches foractuatingone core or the other core, and a controller fork between the cores of said direction control clutches for actuating one of said cores or the other.

12. In an automatic cloth laying-up machine having a carriage with wheels traveling on a table and a prime mover, a transmission connecting said prime mover and wheels, and. including a driven countershaft, a speed clutch shaft, and a reverse clutch shaft, a pair of speed control clutches on said speed clutch shaft and having rotative drums and adjacent cores nonrotative and slidably connected with said speed clutch shaft, a pair of direction control clutches on said reverse clutch shaft and having rotative drums and adjacent cores non-rotative and slidably connected with said reverse clutch shaft, a high speed gear train connecting said countershaft with the drum of one of said speed control clutches, a low speed gear train connecting said countershaft with the drum of the other of said speed control clutches, a forward gear train connecting said speed clutch shaft with the drum of one of said direction control clutches, a reverse gear train connecting said speed clutch shaft with the drum of the other of said direction control clutches, a controller fork between the cores of said speed control clutches for actuating one core or the other core, and acontroller'fork between the cores of said direction control clutches for actuating one of said cores or the other, arcu ate fork shifter cams comiected with'said'forks and-having end sections 'extending to opposite sides, housings pivotally mounted to the front of said cams, plungers slidably mounted on said housings and having followers engaging saidcam, resilient means for urging said plungers outwards, and means for pivoting said housings to a position in which said followers are on one ofthe ends sections or on' the "other of said end sections of said cams. I

13. In an automatic cloth-zlaying-up machine having a carriage with "wheels traveling on a table and a prime mover, a transmission connect.

ing said prime-moverandLwheels, and including a driven countershaft, a speed clutch shaft, and a'reverse clut'chshaft, a-pair ofspeed control clutches on said speed clutch shaft and having rotative drums and adjacent coresnon-rotative andslidably connected with said speed clutch shaft, a pair of directioncontrol clutches on said reverse clutch shaft and having rotative drums,

and adjacent cores non-rotative, and slidably connected with said reversesclutch shaft, a high speed-gear train connecting. ,said countershaft with the drum of :onejofsaid speed control clutches, a low speedgear train connecting said' countershaftwith thedrum of the other of said speed control clutches, a forward gear train connecting said speedclutch shaft with the drum of one. of saiddirection. control clutches, a reverse geartrain connecting said, speed clutch shaft with the drum of the other of said direction: control clutches, a. controller fork between the cores of said speed control clutches for actuating one core or the other, core, and a controller fork between the cores of said direction control clutches forxactuating one of said cores or the other, arcuate fork shiftericams, connectedwith said forks and having end sections extending to opposite sides, housings pivotally mounted to the front'of said cams, plungers slidably mounted on said housings and having followers engaging said cam, resilient means urgingsaid plungers :out-

wards, and means for pivoting said housings to a position in which said followers areon one of the end sections or on the otherof said end sec tions of said cams, and .dash pot means con for retarding their out' a table, said .cloth laying-up machine also having cloth holding means on said table at said forward and rearward positions for catching and holding the foldedend portions of the layers of said laid-up cloth, drive means for saidcarriage comprising a prime mover on said carriage, a transmission connecting said prime mover with said wheels for driving said carriage and including change of speed clutches and change of direction clutches, means for throwing said change of direction clutches including a reverse control lever movably mounted on said carriage and having a forward position in which said carriage is driven forwards and a rearward position in which said carriage is driven rearwards, reversing members mounted on said table at said forward and rearward positions to form an abutment for said reversing lever to move said reversing lever towards its forward and rearward positions respectively when said carriage reaches its rearward passes inwards of said cams.

and. forward positions respectively, means for throwing said change of speed clutches including a change of speed control lever movably mounted on saidcarriage and having a slow position in which said carriage is driven at a slow speed and a fast position in which said carriage is driven at a high speed, and reversing, cams mounted on said table at points slightly inwards of said'forward and rearward positions of said carriage to move said speed control lever towards its slow position when said carriage passes outwards of said cams and moving said speed control lever towards its fast position when said carriage 15. An automatic cloth laying-up machine, comprising a cloth laying-up machine having a carriage with wheels for the cloth and adapted to be moved to and frofrom a forward to a rearward position and back again on a table and cooperative with cloth holding means on said table at said forward and rearward positions for catching and holding the folded end portions of the layers of said laid-up cloth, a prime mover on said carriage, a transmission connecting said prime mover with said wheels for driving said carriage and including change of speed clutches and change of direction clutches, means for throwing. said chan e of direction clutches including a reverse control lever movably mounted on said carriage and having aforward position in which said carriage is driven forwards and a rearward position in which said carriage is driven rearwards, reversing members mounted on said table at said forward and rearward positions to form an abutment for said reversing lever to move said reversing lever towards its forward and rearward positions respectively when said carriage reaches its rearwardand forward positions respectively, means for throwing said change of speed clutches including a change of speed control lever movably mounted on said carriage and having a slow position in which said carriage is driven at a slow speed and a fast position in which said carriage is driven at a high speed, and reversing cams mounted on said table at points slightly inwards of said forward and rearward positions of said carriage to move said speed control lever towards its slow position when said carriagepasses outwards of said cams and moving said speed control lever towards its fast position when said carriage passes inwards of said cams, said transmission including a main-clutch for connecting said wheels with said change of speed and change of direction clutches.

16. In an automatic cloth laying-up machine having a carriage traveling on a table and a transmission for driving said carriage, including a shaft with a pair of clutches having rotative drums on said shaft andadjacent cores nonrotative and slidably connected with said shaft,

a pivotally mounted controller fork between said cores, for actuating by sliding one core or the other, an arcuate fork shifter cam connected with said fork and'having end sections extending to opposite .sides of the pivot of said controller fork for depressing a plunger when moved from its-ends to its center, a housing pivotally mounted to the front of said cam, a plunger for being depressed by said cam slidably mounted on said housing and having a follower engaging the free extremityof one end section of said cam, resilient means urging said plunger outwards for resiliently turning said cam and controller fork, dash pot means connected with said plunger for retarding its outward motion when depressed, and means for pivoting said housing to a position in which said follower is past the pivot of said fork, said reversing members comprising abutments for the reverse control lever mounted on said table.

17. In an automatic cloth laying-up machine having a carriage traveling on a table and a transmission for driving said carriage, including a shaft with a pair of clutches having rotative drums on said shaft and adjacent cores nonrotative and slidably connected with said shaft, a pivotally mounted controller fork between said cores for actuating by sliding one core or the other, an arcuate fork shifter cam connected with said fork and having end sections extending to opposite sides of the pivot of said controller fork for depressing a plunger when moved from its ends to its center, a housing pivotally mounted to the front of said cam, a plunger for being depressed by said cam slidably mounted on said housing and having a follower engaging the free extremity of one end section of said cam, resilient means urging said plunger outwards for resiliently turning said cam and controller fork, dash pot means connected with said plunger for retarding its outward motion when depressed, and means for pivoting said housing to a position in which said follower is past the pivot of said fork, said reversing camscomprising apex shaped cams one of which is directed upwards and the other of which is directed downwards.

18. In an automatic cloth laying-up machine having a carriage traveling on a table and driven with an electric motor, a cloth control automatic cutout for said motor comprising movable fingers over which said cloth may engage, an arm connected with said fingers, a pair of spaced contacts between which said arm may move, a magnetic switch, and a circuit connecting said contacts in series with said magnetic switch and said motor. 

